Bungie severs ties with Microsoft, signs big Activision deal

After the upcoming release of “Halo: Reach,” Microsoft is taking over the “Halo” franchise from Bungie. We already knew this.

But what we didn’t know was that Bungie sounds like it’s all but done with Microsoft, which owned the game studio before it spun off in 2007. Kirkland-based Bungie on Thursday announced a 10-year distribution deal with Activision for its future titles.

Under the deal – the terms of which were not disclosed – Santa Monica, Calif.-based Activision will have the exclusive rights to publish and distribute Bungie’s games on multiple video-game platforms. So at least Bungie isn’t stopping its development for Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

“We chose to partner with Activision on our next (intellectual property) because of their global reach, multi-platform experience and marketing expertise, Harold Ryan, president of Bungie, said in a news release. “From working together over the past nine months on this agreement, it is clear that Activision supports our commitment to giving our fans the best possible gaming experiences.”

Today, we’re poised to open a new chapter in Bungie’s history – one that begins with a partnership between Bungie and Activision and ends where we always knew it would, with World Domination. Our Next Big Thing now has a concrete path, leading from our studio to the platforms of our choosing. The business formalities are behind us. Our Constitution remains unchanged. We are still Bungie, still independent, and now we are free to bring our stories to an ever bigger audience. …

Once the smoke clears, all the pieces will finally be in place for Step 7. Don’t worry, though. We won’t let World Domination go to our heads. We’re gonna keep making kick ass games on our own terms, and since you’ve been so supportive throughout the years, we’d love to bring you along for the ride.